the Big Apple Faces Crew

Saturday, February 15, 2014

What does a EPA or Equity Principal Audition mean?

What does a EPA or Equity Principal Audition mean?

EPA's
are basically union open calls. The difference between EPA's and
non-unions open calls, is that Equity theatre's are actually required by
the union to hold them, so a play may in fact already be cast when an
EPA is held - the theatre is doing it because they have to.

Contrary
to how it sounds, non-union actors CAN go to the auditions. You just
may not be seen. It's up to the director and how many union people they
have to see (Equity actors will be able to make appointments, whereas
non-union actors will just have to show up and wait).

Same thing
for Broadway. Technically all the auditions are Equity, but anyone can
go and wait in line and try to be seen. For the big ones, like Les
Mis,Lion King , Kinky Boots and so on it's just a crapshoot if you
actually will be or not.